Support for raised floors with shaped base and fixing brackets

ABSTRACT

A support for raised floors includes a base configured to be rested on the ground, a head on which floor panels can be rested, a lower bracket configured to constrain a riser to the base, and an upper bracket configured to constrain the riser to the head. The lower bracket includes a planar portion configured to be rested on the ground under the planar portion of the base, an end shaped to define a tooth, a raised portion, or a tab configured to be inserted in a corresponding opening or seat defined in the plane portion of the base, which has at least one rectilinear edge tangential to or close to the raised portion.

The present patent concerns the supports used for raised floors, andmore specifically it concerns a new support for raised floors with basesand possibly with fixing brackets for vertical elements.

At present, to make raised floors on supporting surfaces in general,first of all properly spaced supports are laid, on which successivelythe panels making up the floor, or the joists making up an underlyingstructure for supporting the floor panels, are directly rested.

The supports for raised floors are usually constituted by a base restingon the ground, a substantially cylindrical or tubular intermediate bodywhich extends upwards from said supporting base and a head on saidintermediate body, said head having a flat upper surface on which thepanels or the elements making up the floor are laid.

In particular, the size of said flat upper surface of the head isusually such as to allow the corners or part of the panels to be restedthereon side by side, thus forming the floor.

Supports are also known which are provided with damping and soundinsulation elements which are positioned on said upper surface of thehead. Said damping elements comprise, for example, layers of elasticmaterial having a thickness of a few millimeters.

Supports whose height is not adjustable are known, in which said base,said intermediate body and said head are a single element.

Supports are also known in which, to compensate the differences ingradient between the ground, which often must be inclined to ensure thedrainage of rainwater, and the raised floor, which must be horizontal,the lower surface of said head is convex and suited to oscillate in acorresponding concave seat created on the top of said intermediate body.

The adjustment or compensation of the inclination between the panels ofthe raised floor and the ground is thus carried out by adjusting theinclination of the head in the concave seat in the intermediate body.

Supports are also known, instead, in which the head is configured to becoupled with said intermediate body in such a way that it cannotoscillate but only rotate around the longitudinal axis of theintermediate body.

Supports with adjustable height are also known, in which said base andsaid intermediate body are configured to be screwed on each other in anadjustable manner, consequently varying the overall height of thesupport.

Supports with adjustable height are also known which, in addition tosaid intermediate body, comprise also a further body serving thefunction of an extension, having a generically tubular shape, too, andprovided with a thread or other constraining means for the coupling withsaid intermediate body and said head, and for the adjustment of theoverall height of the support.

The height of the supports is adjusted by acting on said intermediatebody or on said extension body through a screwing/unscrewing action orin any case by acting on said constraining means.

In the case of supports with adjustable height, said head is usuallyholed axially, so that the operator can insert a screwing tool thereinthrough said hole.

For the adjustment of major differences in height, there are furtheradditional bodies suited to be interposed and to be coupled with saidbase and/or said intermediate body and/or said extension body and/orsaid head.

The flat upper surface of the head of the known supports may comprisevertical partitions, usually four and substantially orthogonal to saidflat upper surface, arranged radially towards the centre of the circularshape of said upper surface, that is, arranged on the axes of symmetryof the surface itself to define the four straight angles for thepositioning of the corners of the floor panels.

The supports are distributed on the surface to be floored: the base isrested on and in some cases fixed to the ground, said intermediate bodyis coupled with said base and said head is coupled with saidintermediate body.

Said base generally comprises a plane portion resting on the ground anda tubular portion, normally cylindrical, which extends upwards from saidplane portion and is intended to be coupled with said intermediate bodyor with said additional bodies, if any, or directly with said head.

Said plane portion resting on the ground can be holed, so that it can beconstrained to the ground.

Said plane portion of the base is usually circular and this causes somedrawbacks if the support's base must be positioned in proximity to anobstacle, for example a vertical wall or a step. Furthermore, the raisedfloor to be made often comprises also one or more steps, formed bypanels arranged vertically to form the risers of the steps.

Said risers must be constrained to the ground and to the upperhorizontal panels which make up the floor.

For this purpose, L-shaped brackets are known, for example made of ametallic material, which are used to fix a riser to a support. Morespecifically, for example, each riser is constrained to at least onesupport by means of a first bracket constrained between the lower edgeof the riser and the base of the support and by means of a secondbracket constrained between the upper edge of the riser and the head ofthe support.

In order to be able to position the riser and the support correctly,therefore, the support must be very near the riser and this is notpossible due to said enlarged plane portion of the base.

To overcome this drawback the operators currently provide for cutting apart of the base manually, in such a way as to create a rectilinear sidebeside which the riser will be positioned.

Said operation slows down the assembly work and requires the use oftools such as hacksaws or similar tools.

The assembly procedures are even more complicated if the base of thesupport needs to be positioned at the level of a corner; in this casethe operator must even shape said base in such a way as to create tworectilinear sides at 90° with respect to each other.

In order to overcome said drawbacks, a new type of base for supports forraised floors has been designed and carried out, which comprises anespecially shaped plane portion suited to be rested on the ground.

The main object of the present invention is to simplify the proceduresfor the assembly of raised floors, thus optimizing the time required tolay said floors. It is another object of the present invention toprovide a new base for supports for raised floors which can be installedin any assembly condition. It is another object of the present inventionto provide a base for supports which can be installed with no need touse tools to modify its configuration.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a base forsupports to which the lower brackets can be securely fixed, reducing anyimprecision in the floor laying operations.

These and other direct and complementary objects are achieved by the newbase for supports for raised floors, comprising at least one planeportion suited to be rested and fixed to the ground, and a raisedportion, usually tubular and preferably cylindrical, joined to andextending upwards from said plane portion, and wherein said planeportion is shaped with at least one edge which is at least partiallyrectilinear and tangential or in any case close to said tubular portion.In the preferred embodiment, said plane portion has a substantiallycircular shape without a circular segment, wherein said tubular portion,which is preferably cylindrical, is substantially concentric with saidplane portion, and wherein the chord or secant which defines saidmissing circular segment is tangential or in any case close to saidtubular portion.

In the preferred embodiment, said plane portion comprises also arectilinear cut or notch, orthogonal to said chord of the circularsegment and defining a further detachable circular segment on said planeportion.

In a further solution, said plane portion has a substantially circularshape without two circular segments, wherein said tubular portion, whichis preferably cylindrical, is substantially concentric with said planeportion, and wherein said two circular segments are defined byrespective chords which are orthogonal to each other. In this way, saidplane portion has at least one straight angle, suited to be positioned,for example, at the level of a corner or of an angle.

The new base can be used on any type of support for raised floors, andin particular on supports comprising said base, a possible intermediatebody and a possible additional body, and an upper head, oscillating ornot, on which the floor panels can be directly or indirectly rested.

The support for raised floors may also comprise fixing brackets forvertical elements such as, for example, the risers of steps or verticalpanels.

More specifically, the new support comprises at least one lower bracketsuited to constrain the lower edge of a riser to said base of thesupport, and/or at least one possible upper bracket suited to constrainthe upper edge of a riser to said head of the support, and wherein saidconstraint is obtained without using screws or other fixing means.

Said lower bracket comprises a plane portion suited to be rested on theground under said base, that is, suited to be interposed between theground and said base.

Said lower bracket comprises a first end shaped with tabs or projectionsfacing sideways and intended to be oriented upwards for the engagementof the lower edge of a riser, and a second opposite end shaped with atooth or raised part suited to be inserted in a corresponding opening orseat created in the plane portion of said base.

Said lower bracket, if correctly positioned, is thus positioned in astable manner with respect to said base, which in its turn can be fixedto the ground according to the known technique. Said lower bracket, infact, is constrained between the ground and the base, said first endrests on the edge of said plane portion of the base, while said secondend is coupled in said opening or seat made in said plane portion of thebase.

Analogously, said upper bracket comprises a plane portion suited to berested on the upper surface of said head, and a first end shaped withtabs or projections facing sideways and intended to be orienteddownwards for the engagement of the upper edge of a riser.

Furthermore, said plane portion preferably comprises one or more holesor seats for the insertion of said partitions extending upwards fromsaid upper surface of said head.

Said upper bracket, if correctly positioned, is thus positioned in astable manner with respect to said head. Said upper bracket, in fact, isconstrained between the head and the panels of the floor, while thepartitions of said head, inserted in said holes of the upper bracket,prevent the latter from moving accidentally. In particular, said upperbracket comprises at least two holes made in said plane portion, so thatat least two of said partitions can be inserted therein, making theorientation of the bracket stable.

The characteristics of the new base and of the brackets are highlightedin greater detail in the following description, making reference to thedrawings which are attached hereto by way of non-limiting example.

FIG. 1 shows a top view of a possible embodiment of the new base (B),while

FIG. 2 shows a view of the same base (B) from below.

FIG. 3 shows a three-dimensional view of the base (B) shown in FIGS. 1and 2 .

The new base (B) comprises a plane portion (B1) suited to be rested andfixed to the ground. Said plane portion (B1) can be provided with one ormore holes for the insertion of fixing means suited to fix the base (B)to the ground.

Said plane portion (B1) has an upper surface (B11) from which a raisedportion (B2) extends upwards, said raised portion (B2) being preferablytubular and more preferably cylindrical, and suited to be connected withthe other parts of a support for raised floors such as, for example, anintermediate body and/or the upper head (T) on which the floor panelsrest (FIG. 8 ).

Said plane portion (B1) has at least one rectilinear edge (B3) which isclose and preferably tangential to said tubular portion (B2).

Said rectilinear edge (B3) can be usefully placed beside a verticalobstacle, for example a step, a wall or a riser, to obtain a step of theraised floor.

For example, said plane portion (B1) has a substantially circular shape,without a circular segment defined by said rectilinear edge (B3), whichthus is substantially a chord of the circular shape.

In a preferred solution, said plane portion (B1) comprises also at leastone partial rectilinear notch or precut or cut (B4), for example tracedon its underside (B12) shown in FIG. 2 , and wherein said notch (B4)defines a detachable circular segment (B41).

Said rectilinear notch (B4) is preferably orthogonal to said rectilinearedge (B3), in such a way that, once said detachable circular segment(B4) has been removed, a straight angle, useful to position the base (B)in proximity to a corner, is defined on said plane portion (B1).

Even said rectilinear notch (B4) is tangential or in any case close tosaid tubular portion (B2).

The figures also show how said plane portion (B1) may comprise evenopenings or seats (B32, B42) for the engagement or coupling of fixingbrackets (S) shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 , respectively in a side sectionalview and in a three-dimensional view.

Said fixing brackets (S), for example, can be used to constrain a riser(A) to said base (B) to obtain a step.

Said fixing bracket (S) comprises a plane portion (S1) suited to berested on the ground under said plane portion (B1) of said base (B), afirst end (S2) shaped with tabs or projections (S21, S22) for theengagement of the lower edge of a riser (A), indicated by a broken linein FIG. 4 , a second opposite end (S3) shaped with a tooth or raisedpart or tab (S31) suited to be inserted in one of said openings or seats(B32, B42) of said base (B).

For example, said tab (S31) is bent in the shape of a C.

Said openings or seats (B32, B42) are preferably and convenientlycreated in said plane portion (B1) of the base (B) in a diametricallyopposite position with respect to said rectilinear edge (B3) and saidnotch (B4), if any, since said brackets (S) must be positioned with saidfirst end (S2) resting on said rectilinear edge (B3) or on said notch(B4), if any.

Furthermore, said base (B) preferably comprises, on said rectilinearedge (B3), a recess (B31) suited to accommodate said first end (S2) ofsaid bracket (S). In this way, the bracket (S) is positioned in a stablemanner with respect to the base (B).

The support for raised floors comprises a base (B) suited to be restedon the ground as described above, and at least one upper head on whichpanels for raised floors can be rested, said head being directly orindirectly constrained to said base (B), for example through one or moreintermediate or additional bodies, and wherein said head can be fixedand/or rotate and/or oscillate with respect to said base (B).

The support comprises also at least one of said fixing brackets (S) asdescribed above.

FIG. 4 shows a sectional view of the lower bracket (S) only, while FIG.5 shows a three-dimensional view of the same lower bracket (S).

FIG. 6 shows a sectional view of the upper bracket (P) only, while FIG.7 shows a three-dimensional view of the same upper bracket (P).

FIG. 8 shows a possible embodiment of a head (T) of the new support.

Said head (T) has a substantially flat upper surface (T1) on which thefloor panels can be directly or indirectly rested. Partitions (T2)extend upwards from said upper surface (T1), for example four radialpartitions (T2), preferably detachable. Said upper surface (T1) of thehead (T) can possibly be provided with damping inserts.

Said head (T) can be of the fixed, rotary, oscillating ornon-oscillating type.

The lower fixing bracket (S) is preferably made of a metallic material.

Said tabs or projections (S21, S22), for example, are obtained bybending parts of said first end (S2) towards the same side, and they areintended to be oriented upwards in such a way as to form a U-shaped seat(S4) for the insertion and engagement of said lower edge (A1) of saidriser (A).

Said tabs (S21, S22), for example, are shaped in such a way as toelastically retain the edge (A1) of the riser (A).

Said lower bracket (S) is thus positioned in a stable manner between theground and the base (B).

The upper fixing bracket (P) (FIGS. 6, 7 ) is preferably made of ametallic material and comprises a flat part (P1) suited to be rested onthe upper surface (T1) of said head (T), and a first end (P2) shapedwith first tabs or projections (P21, P22) for the engagement of theupper edge (A2) of a riser (A), indicated by a broken line in FIG. 4 .

Said first tabs or projections (P21, P22), for example, are obtained bybending parts of said first end (P2) towards the same side, and they areintended to be oriented downwards in such a way as to form a seat (P4)for the insertion and engagement of said upper edge (A2) of said riser(A).

Said first tabs (P21, P22), for example, are shaped in such a way thatthey elastically retain said upper edge (A2) of the riser (A).

According to the invention, said upper bracket (P) may also comprise, onsaid first end (P2), a further tab (P23) bent on the opposite side withrespect to said first tabs (P21, P22) and suited to come into contactwith the edge (F1) of an upper floor panel (F), as indicated by a brokenline in FIG. 6 .

Said further tab (P23) is preferably aligned with said first moreexternal tab (P21), so that said edge (F1) of the upper panel (F) can bealigned with said riser (A).

Said plane portion (P1) of said upper bracket (P) is furthermoreprovided with one or more holes (P3) suitable for the insertion of saidpartitions (T2) of said head (T), indicated by a broken line in FIG. 7 .

Preferably, said upper bracket (P) comprises two of said holes (P3),aligned and suitable for the insertion of two corresponding alignedpartitions (T2), in such a way that said upper bracket (P), oncecorrectly positioned, can neither rotate nor move with respect to thehead (T).

Therefore, with reference to the above description and to the attacheddrawings, the following claims are expressed.

1. A support for raised floors, comprising: a base comprising a planeportion configured to be rested and fixed to a ground, and p1 a raisedportion joined to and extending upwards from said plane portion, whereinsaid plane portion of said base has at least one rectilinear edge whichis tangential or adjacent to said raised portion.
 2. The supportaccording to claim 1, wherein said plane portion has a substantiallycircular rounded shape without at least one circular segment therein,wherein said raised portion is tubular, and concentric with said planeportion, and wherein said rectilinear edge is a chord that defines saidat least one circular segment and is tangential or adjacent to saidtubular portion.
 3. The support according to claim 2, wherein said planeportion further comprises rectilinear cut or notch defining anadditional, detachable circular segment on said plane portion.
 4. Thesupport according to claim 3, wherein said notch of said plane portionis orthogonal to said rectilinear edge.
 5. The support according toclaim 3, wherein said notch of said plane portion is tangential oradjacent to said tubular raised portion.
 6. The support according toclaim 1, wherein said plane portion is circular in shape, with twocircular segments missing, and wherein said two circular segments aredefined by respective chords which are orthogonal to each other.
 7. Thesupport according to claim 3, wherein said plane portion comprises oneor more openings or seats for the engagement or coupling of fixingbrackets designed to constrain vertical elements or riser panels formaking steps.
 8. The support according to claim 7, wherein said openingsor seats are defined in said plane portion in a diametrically oppositeposition with respect to said rectilinear edge and to said notch, ifpresent.
 9. The support according to claims 7, wherein said planeportion comprises a recess defined in said at least one rectilinearedge.
 10. The support for raised floors according to claim 1, furthercomprising a lower bracket configured to constrain a riser or a verticalelement coupled to said base (B).
 11. The support for raised floorsaccording to claim 10, wherein said lower bracket comprises a planarportion configured to be rested on the ground that is under said planarportion of said base, a first end shaped with tabs or projectionsconfigured to engage a lower edge of said riser, a second opposite endshaped with a tooth, a raised part, or an outer tab configured to beinserted in a corresponding opening or seat defined in said planeportion of said base.
 12. The support according to claim 11, whereinsaid tabs or projections of said lower bracket are obtained by bendingparts of said first end towards a same side, said tabs or projectionsbeing defined to be oriented upwards and shaped as to form a U-shapedseat (S4) configured to elastically retain said lower edge of saidriser.
 13. The support according to claim 12, wherein said tooth, saidraised part, or said outer tab is bent in a shape of a C on a same sideas said tabs or projections so as to be oriented upwards and coupledfrom below in said corresponding opening or seat created in said planarportion of said base.
 14. The support according to claim 1, wherein saidbase comprises said raised portion extending upwards from said planeportion and configured to be connected to other parts of said supportfor raised floors.
 15. The support according to claim 1, furthercomprising: an upper head on which floor panels can be rested, the upperhead being configured to be directly or indirectly constrained to saidbase the upper head comprising a planar upper surface on which saidfloor panels can be directly or indirectly rested, and one or morepartitions extending upwards from said upper surface; and an upperbracket for constraining an upper edge of a riser to said upper head,wherein said upper bracket comprises a flat part configured to be restedon said upper surface of said head, a first end shaped with first forengagement of the upper edge of the riser (A), and wherein said flatpart of said upper bracket comprises one or more holes or seats in whichsaid partitions of said head can be inserted.
 16. The support accordingto claim 15, wherein said first tabs of said upper bracket are obtainedby bending parts of said first end towards a same side, said first tabsbeing intended to be directed downwards and configured so as to form aseat configured to elastically retain said upper edge of a riser panel.17. The support according to claim 15, wherein said upper bracketcomprises, on said first end, a further tab bent on an opposite sidewith respect to said first tabs and designed to come into contact withan edge of an upper floor panel.
 18. The support according to claim 17,wherein said further tab is aligned with one of said first tabs.
 19. Thesupport according to claim 18, wherein said one or more holes or seatsare a plurality of holes or seats, and wherein said upper bracketcomprises two of said plurality of holes or seats, aligned andconfigured for the insertion of two corresponding aligned partitions.20. The support according to claim 1, further comprising: at least onelower bracket configured to constrain a riser or other vertical elementto said base, and at least one upper bracket suited to constrain anupper edge (A2) of said riser to said head.